Lake Mead National Recreation Area · Arizona, Nevada

Historic Railroad Trail

3.8 mi of trail, end to end · Hike the Historic Railroad Trail: 3.7 mi one way in the Service's write-up · about 500 ft of climbing · 800 ft of descent · 1,289 ft–1,705 ft · native surface · trail class Highly Developed · bike, hiking

Tunnels

1,571 ft 1,289 ft · 3.6 mi high 1,702 ft

Along the way HRR Tunnel 1 HRR Tunnel 2 HRR Tunnel 3 HRR Tunnel 4 HRR Tunnel 5

Trailheads Historic Railroad and River Mountain Loop Trailhead 1,567 ft Drive there · HRRT Trailhead (Hoover Dam side) 1,418 ft Drive there

Hike the Historic Railroad Trail 3.7 mi one way · the Park Service's write-up

1-4 Hours · dogs allowed · entrance fee applies · Winter, Spring, Fall · season Remember heat kills, be summer-smart and opt to hike when temperatures are cooler. If you do choose to hike during the summer, rangers recommend starting early in the morning or later in the evening when the weather is slightly cooler. Remember to pack enough water for your entire trip.

A tunnel constructed of wood beams looking out down a trail towards another tunnel.
Once a route used to transport materials for construction of Hoover Dam, today it is now a trail. Photo: NPS/A. Cattoir

In 1931, the federal government partnered with Six Companies, Inc., a group of six major western construction firms, to build nearly 30 miles of railroad connecting the Hoover Dam and Boulder City. The route was essential in the dam's construction as it allowed workers to move materials and resources from nearby cement mixing and gravel sorting plants and the quarry pits to build the dam.

The railroad tracks were dismantled in 1962. The current multi-use trail was established in 1992 and connection to the Hoover Dam in 2007. Today the trail, perfect for hikers and bikers, features incredible vistas of Lake Mead and Boulder Basin and five tunnels – each approximately 25 feet wide.

The trail is made of level hardpacked fine gravel. Due to high temperatures (100-115 degrees Fahrenheit/38-46 degrees Celsius) in summer and no shade for the first 1.5 miles, this trail is not recommended in summer.

Trail Information

Trailhead: DIRECTIONS

Parking: Parking lot located below the Lake Mead Visitor Center on Lakeshore Rd.

Distance: 3.7-mile one way / 7.5 miles round trip

Elevation Gain: 11 ft. elevation change

Difficulty: Easy

THIS TRAIL IS MAINTAINED

Services: Accessible pit toilets at the trailhead, self-service bike repair station, trash/litter receptacles.

Accessibility There is no shade for the first 1.5 miles. The surface is level and made of hardpacked fine gravel that is easy for bikes and wheelchairs to navigate. There are shipping containers in two of the tunnels with short ramps at each end. They protect people from small rocks that infrequently fall from the ceiling.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

Other trails from the same trailheads

All 19 trails in Lake Mead National Recreation AreaFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.